When CityPlace Burlington developers announced last month that the long-stalled project would be redesigned and further delayed, Mayor Miro Weinberger urged the firm to provide a full update on next steps “as soon as possible.”
Weinberger had hoped to soon see project plans and illustrations and hear how Brookfield Asset Management would minimize the impacts on neighbors who are tired of the hole in the middle of downtown. But he didn’t get his wish at Monday night’s city council meeting, which marked the first time since July that representatives from Brookfield have spoken publicly about their plans for Burlington’s infamous pit.
Instead, their comments amounted to what some councilors called a “non-update update.”
Brookfield vice president of development Aanen Olsen told councilors what they’ve heard many times before: The multimillion-dollar Burlington Town Center redevelopment is a large and complex undertaking that is currently in litigation, which limits what developers can say publicly.
“As we work through these obstacles, we recognize it may require additional time for construction to commence,” Olsen said, reading from a prepared statement. “This has been a difficult process for us all. We can only thank you for your patience, and we look forward to working together to move the project forward.”
With prompting from project consultant Jeff Glassberg — and more prodding from city councilors — Olsen outlined some steps Brookfield plans to take in the next six months: restoring parking and pedestrian access around the site, offering free holiday parking downtown, and partnering with Burlington City Arts in the next 90 days to complete an art installation on the large barriers around the site.
Glassberg added that Brookfield will likely seek amendments to its development agreement with the city. He said the firm is committed to more public engagement in the coming year.
But Brookfield did not answer the primary question on the minds of many for months: When will construction start?
“Are we starting back over at ground zero?” council President Kurt Wright (R-Ward 4) asked. “Can you give us anything that we can tell the public?”
“It’s certainly not going to be 10 years, or even four,” Olsen responded. “I think with phasing the project, we can anticipate seeing some action in the near term, in the next year.”
City councilors have been given timelines before, but none have played out as planned. Minority project partner Don Sinex said in 2016 that CityPlace would be open and occupied by January 2019, but that target has long passed. Sinex demolished the mall in 2017 and got special permission in 2018 to pour a new foundation but never took action. A construction crane was removed from the site in mid-July.
On Monday, councilors lobbed criticism at the three Brookfield representatives in attendance, two of whom were new to council meetings. Olsen replaced Brookfield senior vice president of development Will Voegele, who took another job, according to Olsen. City Councilor Sharon Bushor (I-Ward 1) said the rotating cast of characters doesn’t give her much confidence.
“It makes me feel like this is a project that nobody wants and you keep passing it on to the new, unfortunate people,” she said.
Both Bushor and Councilor Brian Pine (P-Ward 3) said it doesn’t feel like Brookfield is committed to the project.
“The spirit of partnership just hasn’t been here lately,” Pine said, adding the council wants more transparency “to the point where it may make you a little bit queasy and uncomfortable to share, but I think that’s what a public-private partnership is.”
Councilor Max Tracy (P-Ward 2), who phoned in to the meeting, was a bit harsher. He said Brookfield’s inaction violates the parties’ development agreement and suggested the council levy penalties on the developer.
“The time for playing nice has long since passed,” Tracy said. “They have taken advantage of our good faith, our goodwill and the city’s willingness to play ball.”
Wright and Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) both said Tracy’s tack wouldn’t be productive.
“Penalizing you is penalizing ourselves,” Shannon said to the developers.
Councilor Franklin Paulino (D-North District) urged Brookfield to attend Burlington’s Neighborhood Planning Assemblies, which meet several times a month in each ward. Councilor Perri Freeman (P-Central District) had planned to introduce a resolution Monday that would have codified that request, but she ended up referring it back to a council committee after hearing Brookfield pledge more public engagement.
“I feel like we’re moving in a direction to have some more public process and accountability and transparency,” she said.
Councilor Adam Roof (I-Ward 8) urged more communication at council meetings, even if there isn’t much to say. Fellow Councilor Chip Mason (D-Ward 5) had a different perspective, telling Olsen, “You showing up again and saying you have nothing to report, even if true, doesn’t help.”
Weinberger said he’s frustrated that Brookfield didn’t share more but thinks the company will be a “good partner though this extended delay” and get CityPlace “back on a predictable path forward.”
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It’s an easy fix.
Fire Brookfield tomorrow and bring in Trump’s construction group. You’ll have your beautiful retail development built on time and likely under budget. Bonus being you’ve helped POTUS through a tough electoral time for him around here.
Show some compassion while you’re at it.
Miros kingdom “con”…..
Weinberger is fully to blame for this mess and no amount of free holiday parking or pretty art surrounding the pit changes that fact.
The pit is a great political distraction that actually benefits the mayor and council.
While the liberal chattering class is obsessed with a non-issue, no one is paying attention to their skyrocketing property taxes.
Moreover, student achievement in Vermont’s largest city is in the tank.
The pit is a great conversation piece, albeit a perfect metaphor for government mismanagement that protects the elected officials from their real malfeasance.
To the Mayor and most of the City Council who pushed this project past strenuous objections from the citizenry. We told you so.
Peggy Luhrs
And…whatever happened to Don Sinek? Doesn’t it seem a bit strange …he just quietly drifted away (and recently sold his Vermont home)
As long as this comes in where it was supposed to AT A MAX. OF 8 STORIES – i think it’s great to get a do over from the original skyscraper plan forced on Vermonters.
It’s so cute when Miro gets self-righteous about something for which he has no one to blame but himself.
As for the Councilors: I’ll be impressed when they grow a spine and “slam” the right party – Miro.
Of course he still thinks “the company will be a ‘good partner though this extended delay’ and get CityPlace ‘back on a predictable path forward.'” LOL. Based on what evidence?
Counting on Brookfield to finish this project doesn’t make any sense. If this is the Brookfield Asset Management organization I’m thinking of, they are a worldwide player in huge projects mostly in major metropolitan cities. Burlington’s project doesn’t seem to fit their strategy. I suspect they are cleaning things up and sell it as is to someone else to build out.
Yet I am amused to see Miro and the Council squirm now after their dissenters be dammed approach a few years ago….we need new leadership and they really need to go. And what’s happened to Shady Don Sinex, the TIF, etc.? This is far from over and quite a story! The public needs to know more about this transformative project than they’ve given us and no more “trust us, we know what we’re doing” approach.
::slow clap::
Another stunning performance of accountability from the city. Asking the tough questions. Kickin’ ass and takin’ names. I’ll bet Brookfield is absolutely quaking in fear of Miro’s wrath.
I won’t say I told you so but this was a stupid project from the beginning and you people all fell for it! Along with Don the con’s lies and Miro backing him up! Nothing good came of it, just more lies! Hopefully Miro will be voted out the next election! It’s about time the city council stood up and said something!!
Absolute disgrace.
GiGrape: what do you mean by “you people all fell for it”? If everyone fell for it, so did you.
Also – you show a weakness for exclamation points.
Ted Cohen – thanks for joining the “liberal chattering class.”
I agree that many other things are happening while our attention is focused on this. But – it’s just an article.
The other things will get their own articles, eventually.
Do any of you realize that this is a private project. Burlington does not own the property. You all make it sound like you are the boss.
BradD
The City did, as they themselves proclaim, solicit public input on the project.
As our taxes pay for part of the project – we do partly own it.
Charlie: I voted against the project
Brad: The city did own the property and yes our taxes are paying for that pit project…
Thanks, GiGrape.
54% of the voters voted For the project, and that was after an every-door-in-town pamphlet campaign by the Mayor. Some people fell for it – they hoped their dreams would come true, and who could blame them? Unfortunately, they put their faith in a shmoe from NYC.
@Charlie messing
The city will own Pine and St Paul St. Don Sinex owns the mall or what is left. The city will not own any buildings as far as I know.
I agree with all the old hippies and general gripers: Miro is personally responsible for: bad weather, Brexit, discord in the Middle East, terrorism, Kim Jong Un, global climate change, gun violence, fires in the Amazon rainforest, the failure of the G7 Summit, the rise of white supremacy in the US, Miley Cyrus*s failed marriage, anything bad, and, above all, harsh bong hits. So true.
Miro needs to be sacked.
This will drag on for years and nothing will become of it! It goes back to the early 60’s when Burlington started to destroy itself.
So wheres the real story? What is the litigation? Who is sueing who? Is the city a party there too? Why is it confidential? Lets get ALL the facts before the whiners get too much traction.
Worried about “whiners getting traction”? Just do a little research and you’ll find the articles about the past few years on this subject. It is quite the puzzle to trace it all back. And welcome to The Whiners.
http://stillhomeron.blogspot.com/2019/06/t…